Suspect Caught on Tape With Rape Victim

(WPVI) -- Police released surveillance tape that, they say, shows rape suspect Jose Carrasquillo walking with the 11-year-old girl who was attacked earlier this week.

Surveillance video shows the girl escorting her little sister to daycare. As the girls cross Kensington Avenue, a man in a white shirt can be seen walking next to them. Police identify that man as Carrasquillo.

He follows them across the street and down the sidewalk. Ten minutes later, police say Carrasquillo was dragging that 11-year-old girl down an alley and into a secluded backyard.

That's where, police say, he raped the girl so brutally that she had to undergo surgery at the hospital.

A passerby found her bleeding and crying on the sidewalk.
In that yard, police found glasses they believe belong to Carrasquillo. They also say they found more evidence that links him to the crime.

Carrasquillo was jumped by an angry mob when they spotted him near Front and Clearfield on Tuesday afternoon. People in the neighborhood recognized him from a photo released by police.

RELATED VIDEO: Carrasquillo's beating caught on video

Philadelphia's police commissioner said Thursday he will not pursue criminal charges against a group of angry neighbors who beat Carrasquillo.

Commissioner Charles Ramsey said he made the decision based on the severity of Carrasquillo's head and face lacerations, his determination that the neighbors' intent was to bring the man to police and the high level of emotion in the community after the girl's brutal attack.

About a dozen residents of the city's West Kensington neighborhood pummeled Carrasquillo for several minutes on Tuesday. Officers arrived and took him into custody on an outstanding warrant.

"From what I've seen so far, we have one victim and that's an 11-year-old girl," Ramsey said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Before making his decision, Ramsey said, he monitored Carrasquillo's condition and reviewed surveillance video of the assault. As soon as officers arrived at the scene, he said, the group stopped the beating.

"These people saw him, he attempted to run and they caught up with him," Ramsey said. "If the injuries had been severe, maybe we'd have to rethink it."

Carrasquillo has been released from the hospital, and was being interviewed by detectives Thursday afternoon.

They Took the Law Into Their OWN Hands!

PORT RICHMOND - June 2, 2009 (WPVI) -- Police have arrested the man identified as a person of interest in the rape of an 11-year-old girl in Port Richmond on Monday morning.

Jose Carrasquillo, 26, was taken into custody on Tuesday afternoon in the vicinity of Front and Clearfield Streets. Carrasquillo was placed under arrest on an outstanding warrant for a contempt of court charge from a previous case. There has been no arrest warrant issued for him in association with the rape.

Surveillance video obtained by Action News shows Carrasquillo walking on Front Street when residents spot him. They recognized him from photos put out by Philadelphia Police.

The residents then pummel him to the ground. Carrasquillo lies motionless until an officer spots the beating. As more officers arrive, the crowd breaks up.

Carrasquillo received numerous head injuries and was transported to Temple Hospital in critical condition.

Sources tell Action News that residents cheered police and high-fived each other when they showed up to arrest Carrasquillo.

Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey says Carrasquillo has more than a dozen convictions. He was also previously arrested for a sex crime, but Action News is told the victim did not want to press charges.

His family says he just got out of prison two months ago, after serving six years behind bars.

Investigators are also looking to see if Carrasquillo is involved in other rapes.
However, police say they have enough evidence to convict him, and expect to charge him by Tuesday morning.

This all began around 8:30 a.m. Monday.
Police say the 11-year-old girl had just dropped off her sister at daycare and was heading to school when the her attacker approached her in the 3000 block of Kensington Avenue.

"At some point in time [he] threatened to shoot her, but a gun was not seen," said Capt. John Darby. "He threatened her and forced her to walk with him."

The two ended up in the 2000 block of E. Westmoreland. That's where, police say, the man forced the girl behind a home and raped her repeatedly.

"At some point in time either he flees or she's able to get away," said Capt. Darby.
The girl was able to flag down a passerby, who called police.

Police said earlier in the day that physical evidence ties Carrasquillo to a dirty backyard where the child was "sadistically" assaulted.
The Fraternal Order of Police had announced a $10,000 reward for an arrest in this case.

This announcement comes after Philadelphia Police released surveillance pictures, which captured a person of interest near the scene of the rape. It is unclear if police believe Carrasquillo to be the man caught on camera.

The young victim underwent surgery Monday afternoon. She is now in stable condition.
Police continue the investigation into this case. Anyone with information is urged to call police at (215) 686-TIPS (8477) or dial 9-1-1.